The Eternal Word/永恒的道

Embedded is the audio of a song that my husband and I had made for our musicians so that they can perform this song at our wedding last year in order to lead our guests in worship. The original author and composer of this song is unknown. Below are the original lyrics, romanised pronunciation as well as rough translation of each stanza.

太 初 有 道, 道 与 上 帝 同 在,
tai chu you dao, dao yu shang di tong zai
这 道 就 是 上 帝
zhe dao jiu shi shang di
诸 天 万 物 借 这 道 被 创 造,
zhu tian wan wu jie zhe dao bei chuang zao
生 命 从 道 涌 流 出 来
sheng ming cong dao yong liu chu lai

(Rough translation: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Through Him, all things were made.)

这 道 成 肉 身 名 字 叫 耶稣,
zhe dao cheng rou shen ming zi jiao ye su
来 到 世 上 成 为 奴 仆,
lai dao shi shang cheng wei nu pu
经 历了人 生 一 切 的 痛 苦,
jing li le ren sheng yi qie de tong ku
唯 要 叫 世 人 得 救 赎
wei yao jiao shi ren de jiu shu

(Rough translation: The Word became flesh, named Jesus, He came as a servant. Going through life's trials and pains, with the goal of bringing redemption to mankind.)

永 恒 的 道 为 我 们 而来,
yong heng de dao wei wo men e lai
祂 原 是 宇 宙 万 物 主 宰
ta yuan shi yu zou wan wu zhu zai
永 恒 的 道 为 我 们 而来,
yong heng de dao wei wo men e lai
你叫 我 怎 能 不 悔 改
ni jiao wo zhe neng bu hui gai

(Rough translation: The Eternal Word - the Lord of life came for us, how can I not repent?)

Captivated by Love

[Inspired by a short MSN conversation with PP]

3 weeks into married life and I'm so touched by all that my dear had done for me because "he adores you" (in the words of PP.) I realise I'm quite xiaojie plus I'm now living at his parents' place which makes for huge adaptation issues. But my dear's being absolutely accomodating in all my requests and in trying to find out how to get living arrangements done at his house.

I perceive though that he's so busy serving me, he doesn't realise that he's tired. This led me to think and consider what I can be doing so that I can lessen his burden. At this point in time, this is my personal response to the deep, devoted love my dear had for me.

It was at this point that I realise what it should be between Christ and His believers.

Christ's love for us is so much more than the (very deep, devoted) human love that my dear had for me. He so love us that He gave up His life for us so that we can have eternal life. I am also sure that all believers who know that Christ is God will be able to recall personal episodes when Christ has taken personal care of us in our daily lives. For all believers, He loves us and "will work for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purposes."

The main question we answer in living our lives as beloved believers is: With our hearts captivated by His love, how are we responding to Him?

Taste the Lord for He is good

Recently, I was very much saddened when talking with a sister-in-christ, she shares from her heart, "I don't think I'm good enough to be blessed by God."

I am also partly angry (not with my sister-in-christ, but with Satan) because it is in operation from half-truths, and it keeps His people from feeling His joy.

The truth in that sentence is that no one is good enough to deserve God and to deserve Jesus.

"There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God." (Rom 3:10-11)

But that's us, our fallibles from our human strengths. We will try, and we will fail. Even as we strive, our being longs to do the opposite of His will and to sin. And in our inheritance from Adam, we are all cursed because of our sin and all cursed and condemned.

But that is not our God of Love. Even as we struggle and fail, He reaches out to us and wants to save us. We are righteous, not because of what we do or not do, we are righteous because of His Son on the cross. He died, so that all our sin and evil, of all that we've done or not done, whether in the past, present or future, has been atoned for. And He also rose bodily, to show us the new Hope of what the Father had destined for His Sons and Daughters. We simply place our faith in His Son that we have become God's Sons and Daughters because of what Jesus had done for us.

And because of what He has done, we inherit His promises:

"God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." (Rom 8:28-30)

He has also said:
""My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons." God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:5-7; 10-11)

His will is to bless those who are His Sons and Daughters, and though sometimes life may not turn out the way we will and want, that's not to say that He does not will to bless us. Perhaps He wills to bless us through these tribulations? In ways we do not yet know or can imagine?

So:

"Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." (Ps 34:3-8)

A Christian's place in Human Resource Development

Human Resource Development (HRD) holds at its heart humanistic assumptions. One fundamental assumption is that humans are inherently good

This is incompatible with the Christian worldview that "There is no one righteous, no not one" (Rom 3:10). Does the fact that we believe that humans are fundamentally sinful mean that Christians cannot or should not function in HRD?

First of all, the judgement of good is not from one person to another. Rather the judgement is by God (who is infinitely good - holy) to man. By His standards, we are not good.

Knowing that the "Wages of sin is death" (Rom 6:23), He however does not simply just bask in His holiness and allow us to languish. He "so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16). He did not do this just so that humans will be declared righteous, but also "because you (Jesus) were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. ou have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God..." (Rev 5: 9-10). That is the greatest intervention anyone can make to 'help people become better' (Understood fully, this phrase is probably the understatement of world history.)

And so we are called "to be holy as I (God) am holy" (1 Pet 3:16). He did not leave His disciples (and I pray I am one of them) alone though, "the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my (Jesus') name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26) Our ultimate Developer "lives with you and will be in you." (John 14:17)

All these include human development in processes and actions.

But as disciples, we are not called to simply develop ourselves. We are also called to be salt and light in the world. (Matthew 5:13-14). Ideally, it's to prevent decay from sin and bring about God's goodness. Isn't the aim of Human Development to help people to become the best that they have the potential to be? (And from the Christian argument, hasn't God shown the greater vision and imposed the more rigourous standards than what any man has devised?)

So though Christians can differ in our beliefs in this fundamental difference, it doesn't mean that Christians cannot and should not be in the field of HRD. In fact, in the ideal situation (where alot of Christians including myself have failed by God's standards in), we are all called to "Love your neighbour as yourself." (Matt 22:39). These will necessarily include interventions that will help our fellow people to become better - necessary Human Development functions, with our hearts being driven by love.

History also attest to how ordinary Christians, being driven by this heart of love, have helped bring about better human conditions and education. William Wilberforce took forceful actions to lead to the lawful abolition of the Slave Trade; St Margaret's School remains the legacy of Maria Dyer, a missionary who opened the school to give orphan girls a chance for free education; Bishop William Fitzjames Oldham provided the male counterpart in Anglo-Chinese School to get boys off the streets.

From the way I see it, there's nothing in our belief system that should prevent our involvement in HRD, rather the bigger question is are we driven enough by God's love to do it well enough?

The "Dead Sea Scrolls" Exhibition

On hearing that the "Dead Sea Scrolls" exhibition is in town, I was eager to view it and was doubly excited when my SO repeatedly reminded me about the exhibition and sought to confirm that we would be visiting it over the weekend (as if I needed any reminder!)

I had expected it to be a historical, factual tour and it was that. The unexpected and wonderful gift and bonus was that it was also a faith-building experience.

First the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1948 which had previously belonged to an isolationistic Qumran jewish sect. They were dated to be within 100 years of Jesus' death and resurrection. They contained fragments of the scrolls on which the Old Testament was written in their original hebrew, and in which scholars painstakingly pieced together over 60 years. They confirmed that the Old Testament text, from which legitimate bible societies now translate from into our own languages, is the same as the text that was read by the original Israelites of old. Miraculously, the fragments came from all the different books in the OT (except for the Book of Esther.) Even more amazingly, a whole scroll containing the Book of Isaiah is intact. This is consistent with Isaiah 55:11

"...so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Next the miraculous passion in varied individuals in various parts of Europe to translate the word of God from its original Hebrew and Greek into their own tongues. Up till 400A.D, the bible was translated into 160 languages, however, from 500 A.D, the bible could only be available in 1 language, which was in Latin (not even the "native" tongue of the originals.)

However, in 1510s, an amazing thing happened, varied individuals, who do not know each other initially, felt the call to translate the bible into their own language - an illegal activity punishable by cruel torment and death, normally burnt at the stake as a heretic. And so heroes sprang forth - Martin Luther (who had initially purposed for internal changes, not an external separation) for the German bible, William Tyndale for the English bible (and who created the modern English language in the process), Casiodoro de Reina in Spanish, many of them matyred in the process. It reminded me about Jesus' word:

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

All these enabled by the timely invention of the movable-type printing press! Though Gutenberg's primarily purpose appears to be for profit (as mentioned by some resource on the internet), it was the invention that enabled the mass production of the bible.

It is illuminating to see for myself evidences of how God Himself protected and enabled to transmission of knowledge of Himself to all nations. The scrolls, the bibles right there, one of which could be felt and touched directly awed me as to the finality of God's purposes and will and on how He had enabled men to do the work He had purposed in His good timing despite men's militancy and suppression for their own agendas. How great and glorious is our God!

Where intellect and religion meets...

A Skeptical View of Theism

"The bible - a love letter from God..."

"It's not just an academic book we explore, study and memorise, it is about holding Him (the Word of God) close to our hearts..." - from my SO

More similarities than differences?

My SO and I came from different churches both of which is widely perceived to be very different in terms of their philosophies and understanding about Jesus' promises. So, I'd guess it's natural that when my SO and I were in our early courtship days, many concerns perpetually run through my mind.

"How Christian is he?"
"Is he worshipping the true Jesus? Or is He fellowshipping with a Jesus I don't know?"
"Is he someone I can trust to lead me spiritually? Or will I have a bigger than usual struggle in learning to submit to him?"

This struggle is not helped by the fact that within the whole body of class, many different congregations (read churches) have very varied practices and understandings which results in different practices. Adding to this confusion is a number aberrent organisations which also teaches about Jesus but who corrupts the gospel He brings.

However, if my and my SO's experiences together could be any sort of reliable barometer, it does appear that believers who value God's word actually have more important similarities than differences in life applications. So far in our conversations, it appears to include:

1) Worship of God as a matter and response of the heart
2) The purpose of dating/courtship
3) The handling of finances in marriage
4) The place of children in marriage
5) Enjoying God and His gifts
6) The importance of Christian fellowship
7) The intention to honour our parents (without worshipping them.)
and many others (I'm simply listing these from off the top of my head.)

Where we do differ, are (in my opinion) areas of relatively lesser importance, these include:
1) The place of suffering in a Christian's life
2) The figurative vs literal nature of God's blessings and how that manifests itself in our lives
3) The partnership between God's effort and our effort in our sanctification process and how it should actually work out in our lives.

For purposes of determining a person basic doctrinal beliefs, you may find this link: http://www.carm.org/christianity/christian-doctrine/theological-test useful. I remember the time before we date when I had subjected him to this test... keke....

But much more than the model answers a person can regurgitate in answering the question, I guess the heart of the matter, is the matter of the heart. After the foundation of ascertaining wheter the person is in relationship with the right Jesus, it is really about how much he/she reveres the Person, places faith in the promises and seeks (mainly through the bible) the will of Jesus.

Interesting article on the first few years of marriage

Newlywed Ambush: http://www.christianitytoday.com/mp/1999/spring/9m1018.html

Days of Elijah

How Beautiful Video by Twila Paris

With special emphasis on matyred missionaries

Can be accessed by the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd7WrJlS6OA

And acapella version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixRXAcM57bE

God of Wonders video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CBNE25rtnE

"There is a fountain filled with blood" and "It is well with my soul"

My dear's and my favourite song respectively.

"There is a Fountain Filled with Blood", by William Cowper, 1772


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-cY5vO0W0M
Interesting background to the song: http://www.truthinhistory.org/there-is-a-fountain-filled-with-blood.html

"It is well with my soul", by hymnist Horatio Spafford and composed by Philip Bliss, 1873


From: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSXzDiGpYZ8&NR=1
Interesting background to the song: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Is_Well_With_My_Soul

Video on "The Change" by Steven Curtis Chapman

Up to the middle of the video, I thought I was looking at a video made by an extremist. The images of hate, of violence, of persecution done in God's name is sick, hateful and not glorifying to God. Is that what the author believes is done for God's glory?

Then as I reached the end, I realised it was done to illustrate the natural, spirit-filled change. Ultimately, a spirit-uplifting video that contrasts religosity, acts of hate with real, deep-seated changes that are powered and strengthened by the Holy Spirit.


From http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgpEwGoSLB8

Nice video of "How deep the Father's love for us"

Well-thought through video, with appropriate bible verses for the lyrics and the lyrics complemented with appropriate images too. A good reminder of the finished work of Jesus Christ.



From http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrtgrU_uo9s

Atonement

And he (Jesus) asked them (His disciples), "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ (Messiah, Saviour)." (Mark 8:29)

And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. (Mark 8:31)

And it was the third hour when they crucified him. And the inscription of the charge against him read, "The King of the Jews." And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!" So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

And when the sixth hour (noon) had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"... Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. (Mark 15:25-34; 37-38)

(Personal notes of talk)
It is obvious from the above that He does not save himself or others from the cross. Rather he saves by being rejected, being killed and then rising after that. The question then is that in that act, who does He saves, and what does He saves from?

Some professing Christians may protest that it is unfair that an innocent scapegoat had been found to take the punishment of another already convicted guilty, it is unjust. Why should He be punished for our own personal wrongs against God? But if we remember that Jesus is not just fully man, but fully God as well, it is actually God Himself taking the wrath and punishment (wages) of sin upon Himself.

Most great men are remembered because of their lives, Jesus is remembered because of why He had to die.

Note: Another take on this issue could be found here: "Why did Jesus cry out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?"" and "Why did Jesus have to die for our sins?"

At rest

For a long time, I had felt unease about my relationship with SO. Although I had ascertained (to the best of my ability) that he is truly saved before going out with him, there had been this sense of niggling doubt whether I can really trust his headship and to depend on him spiritually. This heart of unrest had led to many sinful throwing of tantrums, whining, nagging and harsh, spontaneous and deliberate words designed to hurt and break the spirit - all on my part.

But all these changed after our personal bible study yesterday. And what is surprising is that this feeling of being at rest spiritually with him, comes from his respectful sharing of his discomfiture with my church after visiting it with me for nearly 2 years.

Note: These heartfelt comments had to be taken against the background that we both agree that my church is preaching God's Word. Heavily edited and summarised version of what he had said.

"The greater emphasis by your church is on what we *should* (emphasis mine) do, as believers in Christ. That is right, not wrong. However, what it has led to in me personally, is a focus on myself, my failings and to fear. And we know there is nothing we can do that will ever reach God's standard. What has helped me rather so far, is my awareness that Jesus is constantly present with me, and that He accepts me and whatever requests I bring to Him always. Then I am able to do what is preached in James, which is a natural response of faith in Him to be in me and constantly around me."

For some reason, despite the fact that he is not totally comfortable with my "spiritual home", his words laid to rest my worries about him leading me spiritually. Long and arduous may be our spiritual journey as we continue to discuss and debate the many, many differences in our understanding of His Word and how that should work in actual applications in our lives, but even this no longer matters.

For I know that Jesus is with us, as He is with him.

An adequate response

"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." (1 Pet 3: 15-16)

Some time ago, I was having a very happy dinner with my friend. We were chatting happily, not really caring about the direction of the topic when I was suddenly aware of myself saying (I have no idea how I got there...)

"You know when I was not a Christian, I've always felt that Christians were myopic, narrow-minded people...."

And even as I was saying the above, I was aware that very soon I would be made to account for why I believe in Christ now, and sure enough....

"So why are you a Christian now?"

Silence, my mind was a blank. Eventually, I wheezed out, "Because I have experienced the love of Jesus, in dying on the cross for me...."

Which gave her the chance to say, "You know this theme of self-sacrifice is not unique to Christianity. In Buddhism, Buddha also gave himself up for mankind so that they can reach enlightenment..."

Hopefully, my wasting of a chance to talk about Christ can be your gain. Now that I have some time to think things through, I'd feel an adequate response would possibly contain these elements.

i) God is a holy God. Being holy, He cannot withstand any single intention or action that is against His fully good character.

ii) He made man to be in fellowship with Him. He intends for Man to rule the world under Him.

iii) However man is sinful, and wants to rebel against Him. We want to rule the world without Him. (Romans 3:10 "There is no one righteous, no not one...")

iv) "For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23) As a result, we are condemned, to be away from His presence forever.

v) "I am the way the truth the life. No one comes to the Father except through me..." (John 14:6) Belief in Jesus is the only way. "but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

vi) "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. " (Romans 10:9-10) When we put Jesus as Lord in our lives, our relationship with God is restored.

I believe, because I believe in the words of Jesus....

Anymore essential elements for an adequate response?

What Angels Long to know

Very meaningful song by Steven Curtis Chapman. Part of the lyrics:

Angels Wish

Was God smiling when He spoke the word and made the world?
And did He cry about the flood?
What does God's voice sound like when He sings, when He's angry?
These are just a few things that the angels have on me

.......
But I've been shown the Saviour's love
The Grace of God has raised me up
....
And I know things the angels only wish they knew

I have seen the dark and desperate place where sin will take you
I've felt loneliness and shame
And I have watched the blinding light of grace
come breaking through with a sweetness only tasted
By the forgiven and redeemed

And someday I'll sit down with my angel friends
Up in heaven
And they'll tell me about Creation
And I'll tell them a story of Grace
.....

And isn't that true? When Lucifer led a rebellion against God, a third of the angels followed him. And they were kicked out of heaven onto earth where they are continuing their campaign to lead people in rebellion against God and away from Jesus Christ. They will await for the appointed time for their judgement. The lake of fire was originally prepared for them. (Matt 25:41)

There is no reprieve for them - their rebellion signals their eternal dismissal from God's presence - to the lake of fire where even death and hades is thrown in during the end times (Rev 20:15) Yet God in His grace sent Jesus to die for us so that we can fellowship with Him, a grace that is not shown to the demons - the fallen angels. (2 Pet 2:4) He has given us a way to be His Sons and Daughters and to know Him as the perfect, heavenly Father...

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

He is in control

Had been disturbed for some time because of relations in the office which frankly, I was reluctant to resolve because I had felt it was not my fault. (Why should I?) Yet there was disquiet in my heart from this disharmony.

He sees even the most petty of things in our lives. In this particular episode, He set up a situation where we were alone together (without any of our planning) and where it was awkward to escape. Nothing fanciful, simply being along for 2 so short (yet so crucial) minutes where apologies could be made. And He moved my proud heart so that I initiated what I and my heart WILL not do.

From a human perspective, it was a lose-lose situation - not only was our relations not restored to what it was, I said "sorry" - a potentially career-limiting move, against chinese wisdom which classifies this as "赔了夫人又折兵".

Yet now, I am at peace, with Him, because I did what is right in His sight. It's a shame that our relationship was not enhanced, but He gives, and He takes away. I can only wait on His timing now.

This simple episode is so amazing because it parallels our salvation. Things are wrong! And we and our heart want things contrary to His Will. We wish for others to submit to us. Yet it is God who grants us the way of reconciliation, God who rules our heart to desire that reconciliation and ultimately God who acts in us (despite our hearts) to obtain this reconciliation.

Other mundane notes: I've only received my notice of paying tax yesterday (though it was sent a month ago) and the due date was today! Praise God that I'm given the opportunity to pay my taxes before potential misunderstandings and troubles can occur at a period where I am relatively more at rest and thus less irritable and bothered. And my dear's prayers is moving towards dependence on God's daily provision not only for our daily bread and physical blessings, but also for His work in changing our hearts and becoming people of His Kingdom. I'm feeling so blessed. :)

Matthew 10:29-33 "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. "